Casket-lowering device.



No. 664,5lr `Patented nec. 25, i900.

A. C. R|cHAnnsoN.

GASKET LWEFHNG DEVICE.

(Applicnnin med Apr. 21, 19,00.) (No Modem 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Tn: nonms ravens cov PHQTQUTMQVMSMNGTDN. m cv Patented Dec. 25, |900.

No. $64,531.V

4A. Gf RICHARDSON'. GASKET LUWERING DEVICE.

(Appuaeion med Apr. 21, 1900.; *Y

' 2 sheets-sheet 2,

(No Rodel.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

ALBERT C. RICHARDSON, OF FRANKFORT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE` HALF TO THOMAS WATSON, OF SAME PLACE.

GASKET-LOWERING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,581, dated December 25, 1900.

Application lecl April 21, 1900.

To all whom' it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT C. RICHARD- soN, a citizen of the United States of America,

' residing at Frankfort, in the county of Benzie, in the State of Michigan, have invented a certain Improved Casket-Lowering Device, of which the following is a description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference-letters indicate like or to corresponding parts, Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of a grave'provided with a suitable casing and with my improved lowering device, full lines showing the casket in position at the top of the grave before lowering and dot lines showing the same at the bottom of the grave. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, dot lines omitted. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the same, and Fig. 4 is a transverse section, showing the casket in pozo sition in the grave and the manner of removing the deflated air-cushion.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple and effective means for lowering caskets into the grave in which the liability of accidents is reduced to a minimum. l

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the 3o claims.

In the drawings, A represents a casing or protector, preferably made of sheet metal and designed to be placed within a grave while digging and preparing the same and to be withdrawn prior to filling. The casing is strengthened by a suitable rim or ange B and such other well-known means as may be desired.

C is the box for the reception of the casket, and D is the casket. A series of substantially vertical guiding bars or rods E, placed at both the ends and sides of the grave, extend from the top or, if preferred, from above the top of the casing to the bottom of the box C and serve to direct the casket safely into the box and in the position desired. A preferably rectangular pneumatic cushion F, composed of suitable material of the same general form as the grave and of a size somewhat less than that of the box, extends to a point near the top of the casing and is provided with a top Serial No. 13,825. (No model.)

on which the casket may be seated. Any preferred means may be employed to strengthen and form the top of the cushion. One or more valves f are provided to charge the cushion and to control the escape of the air when the device is in operation. Bars or slats G or equivalent members secured to the top of the casing serve to firmly hold the tops of the guiding-bars E, the lower ends of which 6o may be removably fixed in any suitable manner to the bottom of the box C. Depressions for the ends of the bars may be formed therein or, if preferred, the lower ends of the bars may be pointed or otherwise formed to engage with the bottom of the box.

In the preferred form suitable rings f or their equivalents secured to the sides of the cushion loosely embrace the side rods E and serve to guide the course of the cushion as it 7o is defiated. The rods E on one side are also preferably provided with means upon their lower ends to engage with the rings f upon that side, so that the cushion maybe readily withdrawn from beneath the casket when it is suitably positioned upon the cleats c. A washer e, larger than the ring or its equivalent, secured near the lower end of the rod in any preferred manner, serves this purpose, Fig. 4.

The Inode of operation is as follows: After the grave is formed and while the casing is inf position the box C is placed therein in the usual manner. The barsE are then passed cushion F are positioned in the grave in such a manner as to sufficiently embrace and guide the casket from the top to the bottom of the grave. The lower ends of the rods are so arranged as to seat the casket vclose to one side 9o of the box in order that thecushion may be `more easily removed. The bars or rods are substantially vertical, and their tops are firmly retained in proper relation by means of longitudinal and transverse bars or slats G, 9 5 which are preferably secured to the Iianges B and also to each other where they cross. Thumb-screws g or other suitable means may be employed for this purpose. The casket is is substantially on a level with the top of the casing A, and upon slowly releasing the conthrough the rings f and with the iniated then seated upon thetop of the cushion, which roo,

lined air the cushion is deiiated', and the casl ket easily and safely sinks and is guided into the box, the cushion folding beneath it, as

shown in Fig. 4. The casket preferably rests upon cleats c, arranged at the ends of the box or equivalent parts and is positioned at one side of the box, as explained. The bars E are then removed, and the cushion, relieved from the weight of the casket by reason of the cleats c, may be easily removed by drawing it sidewise by means of the connection of the rods E upon one side with the rings on the cushion,

Fig. 4. The box-cover may then be placed4 in position in the usual manner, the casing Withdrawn, and the grave filled.

In the preferred construction the cushion is divided into a plurality of separate compartments, each controlled by a separate valve. By. means of a transverse partition near the middle of the cushion the lowering of the casket may be controlled, preventing the shifting of the air from one end of the cushion to the other, which would cause the casket to be lowered unevenly. A longitudinal central .f Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A casket-lowering device, comprising a collapsible air-reservoir divided into a plurality of non-com municating compartments, and valve connections arranged to independently control the inflating1 and deating of the several compartments, substantially as described.

2. A pneumaticl cushion comprising a collapsible air-reservoir, adapted when inated,

to be positioned in an open grave with its upper surface near the top thereof, in combination witha valve connection arranged to control the inflation and deflation of the reservoir and means for withdrawing the reservoir from the grave when deflated, substantially as described.

3;l A pneumatic cushion comprising a collapsible air-reservoir, constructed, when inflated, to be positioned in'an open grave with its upper surface near the top thereof, in combination with a valve connection arranged to control the ination and deflation of the reservoir, and means attached to the reservoir whereby when deflated it may be withdrawn from beneath the casket, substantially as described.

4:. A. pneumatic cushion lcomprising a collapsible air-reservoir, adapted when inated to be positioned in an open grave with its upper surface near the top thereof, and provided with guiding-rings secured to its sides, in com-bination with a valve connection ar ranged to control the infiation and deation of the reservoir, substantially as described.

5. A casket-lowering device comprising a collapsible air-reservoir divided into a plurality of non-communicating compartments,

` and adapted, when inflated, to be positioned in an open grave with its upper surface near the top thereof, in combination with valve connections arranged to independently controll the inflating and deflatingof the several compartments.

6. A pneumatic cushion comprising a collapsible air-reservoir adapted, when inflated, to be positioned in an open graveV with its su rface near the top thereof, and valve connections arranged to control the inflation and de ilation of the reservoir, in combination with means for guiding the cushion while deflating the same, substantially as described.

7. A pneumatic cushion comprising a collapsible air-reservoir divided-into a plurality of compartments, adapted when inflated, to be positioned in an open grave with its upper surface near the top thereof, in combination with valve connections arranged to independently control they iniating and deflating of the several compartments, and substantially vertical guides arranged to guide and direct the cushion and itsv burden when deflating the same, substantially as described.

8. A pneumatic cushion comprising a collapsible air-reservoir adapted when inflated,

to be positioned in an open grave with its upper surface near the' top thereof, and provided with valve connections controlling the iniating and defi-ating of the same, in com- -bination withk substantially vertical guides, Y and means secured to the sides of the cushion coactin'g with the guides to guide and direct the cushion and its burden when deflating the former, substantially as described.

9. A casket-lowering devic'ev comprising a casing, substantially vertical guiding-rods, and means for retaining the guiding-rods in position, in' combination with a pneumatic cushion comprising a collapsible air-reservoir adapted, when inflated, to be positioned between the guiding-rods with its upper surface near the top of the grave, and valve connections arranged to control the i'na'It-ion and deflation of the reservoir, substantially as described. f

10. A casket-lowering device comprising a casing, substantially vertical guiding-rods, and means for retaining the rodsv in position, in combination with a pneumatic cushion comprising a collapsible air-reservoir adapted when inflated to be positioned between' the guiding-rods with its upper surface near the top of the grave, and providedwith guidingrings secured tothe sides thereof, adapted to IOO IIO

loosely embrace the guiding-rods, and valve connections arranged to control the inflation and deliation of the reservoir, substantially as described.

11. A casket-lowering device comprising a casing, guiding rods or bars, retaining-slats G, means for securing the slats in position,V

and means for securing the guiding-rods at the bottom of the grave, in combination with a pneumatic cushion comprisin g a collapsible air-reservoir adapted, when inflated, to be positioned between the guiding-rods with its upper surface near the top of the ground, aud valve connections arranged to control the in- Iiation and deiiation of the reservoir, substantially as described.

12. A casket-lowering device comprising a casing, guiding rods or bars, retaining-slats G, means for securing the slats in position, and means for securing the guiding-rods at the bottom of the grave, in combination with a pneumatic cushion comprising a collapsible airreservoir adapted when iuliated, to be positioned between the guiding-rods with its upper surface near the top of the grave, and provided with rings secured to its sides,adapt 'ed to loosely embrace the guiding-rods, and

valve connections arranged to control the inflation and deflation of the reservoir, substantially as described.

13. A casket-lowering device comprising a casing A, guiding rods or bars E, retainingslats G, means for securing the retainingslats in position, and means for securing the lower euds of the rods, in combination with a pneumatic cushion comprising a collapsible reservoir divided into a plurality of compartments, adapted, when inflated, to be positioned between the guide-rods with its upper surface near the top of the grave, and valve connections arranged to control the inflation and deflation of the reservoir, substantially as described.

14. A casket-lowering device comprising a casing A, guiding rods or bars E, retainingslats G, means for securing the retainingslats in position, and means for securing the lower ends of the rods, in combination with a pneumatic cushion comprising a collapsible reservoir divided into aplurality of compartments, adapted when inflated to be positioned between the guide-rods with its upper surface near the top of the grave, and provided with guiding-rings f adapted to loosely embrace the guiding-rods, and valve connections arranged to control the iniiation and deflation of the reservoir, substantially as described.

15. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pneumatic cushion provided with guidingrings arranged upon its sides with valve connections for controlling the intlating and deating of the cushion, in combination with vertical guiding-rods adapted to be passed loosely through said guiding-rings, the rods upon one side being provided with means at the lower end to engage the rings to withdraw the cushion, substantially as described.

16. A pneumatic cushion comprising a collapsible air-reservoir divided into a plurality of compartments and provided with guiding means secured to the sides thereof, in combination with valve connections, arranged to independently control the inating and detlating of the several compartments, substantially as described.

ALBERT C. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

THOMAS WHITTLE, AUGUST SCHMIDT. 

